Coronavirus updates: Washington reports 94 deaths; Tacoma Dome test slots full
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Saturday, March 21.
MASKS REMOVED FROM SEATTLE TARGET, SENT TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Updated 5:30 p.m.
A KUOW public radio reporter tweeted a photo Saturday morning questioning why a Seattle Target location was selling N-95 respirators (masks) while local hospitals have been reporting shortages.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s staff and others stepped in and removed the masks for medical use.
“Those masks are now on their way to the health care workers who desperately need them,” Inslee tweeted Saturday evening.
MULTICARE ASKING FOR PPE DONATIONS
Updated 4 p.m.
MultiCare wrote on its Twitter account Saturday afternoon that it is seeking more personal protective equipment for staff, patients and care teams.
“If you have any PPE available to donate, we appreciate your help at this time,” the tweet reads.
MultiCare is currently accepting unopened masks, gloves and gowns through curbside drop off from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekdays at its hospital loading docks. For exact locations, visit the MultiCare website.
INSLEE: AGES 65-PLUS SHOULD NOT GO TO WORK UNLESS THEY HAVE ‘ESSENTIAL’ JOBS
Updated 4 p.m.
In an AARP tele-town hall meeting with nearly 14,000 people Saturday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee strongly encourage residents aged 65 and older to stop going to work unless they provide essential services — such as health care or emergency workers.
“If you can work from home, that’s tremendous,” Inslee said. “But if you cannot, you really should not be going into an exposure situation right now. I have not issued a legally-binding order in this regard. I prefer to make an attempt to encourage Washingtonians to volunteer for this effort and we’ve had some, but we’ve not had enough.”
Inslee said he is working on a measure to ensure that workers 65 or older have a legal right and the financial means to leave the workplace and self-isolate for the remainder of the COVID-19 outbreak.
STATE DOH RELEASES PPE DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES
Updated 3:45 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health is publishing guidelines on how personal protective equipment will be allocated to counties in the greatest need, and how it will help counties determine how to distribute PPE to their facilities.
In a statement Saturday afternoon, the DOH gave following criteria:
▪ The first tier of recipients include longterm care facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitals with the most confirmed cases, emergency medical services and first responders asked to transport confirmed patients, and health care workers supporting longterm care facilities with confirmed cases. N-95 respirators (masks) will be prioritzed to only facilities in the first tier.
▪ The second tier includes health care facilities with fewer confirmed cases, congregate locations with confirmed cases such as jails and shelters, other EMS services and isolation and quarantine facilities run by the DOH.
▪ The third tier includes other quarantine and isolation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, other health care facilities and outpatient facilities.
▪ The fourth tier includes homeless shelters and other congregate locations, and family members of confirmed cases who remain at home.
It is recommended that counties fulfill orders for up to seven days.
PPE prioritization may evolve as the outbreak continues. For updated information, visit the state’s coronavirus response website.
WASHINGTON STATE COVID-19 CASES UP TO 1,793 WITH 94 DEATHS
Updated 3:05 p.m.
Washington state reached 1,793 positive COVID-19 cases Saturday, and now has 94 virus-related deaths since the outbreak began.
The total number of cases increased by 269 from Friday and included 11 new deaths.
Eight of the state’s counties have reported at least one death from the virus, including Benton (two deaths), Clark (three), Grant (one), Island (one), King (74), Pierce (one), Snohomish (10) and Whatcom (two).
King County continues to be the hardest hit, and had 934 cases reported as of Saturday, a jump of 141 cases since Friday with seven additional deaths. Snohomish County has the second-most cases in the state with 447, while Pierce County is third with 95.
No other county has reached 30 confirmed cases. There are 147 cases with unassigned counties.
Since the outbreak began, 25,328 cases have been tested statewide with about 93 percent of results coming back negative.
SECOND PATIENT AT WESTERN STATE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Updated 3 p.m.
A second patient at Western State Hospital in Lakewood has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Washington Department of Social and Health Services said in a statement Saturday the second patient was on a different ward than the first patient who tested positive earlier this week.
Both patients are being treated for the virus at Pierce County hospitals.
Western State will continue to screen patients residing in the same unit at the psychiatric hospital for COVID-19 symptoms several times per day moving forward, and will limit the movement of patients on wards.
All staff movement between units will also be restricted, the statement says, and staff will also continue to self-screen for symptoms.
Visitors to the hospital between March 13-16 are also encouraged to monitor themselves for symptoms, and should consult their health care providers should symptoms emerge.
TESTING SLOTS AT TACOMA DOME FULL
Updated 2:20 p.m.
All available COVID-19 testing slots at the Tacoma Dome’s special drive-thru site are full, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department wrote Saturday afternoon on Twitter.
The department urges those experiencing symptoms to contact their health care providers.
PIERCE COUNTY CONFIRMS 12 NEW COVID-19 CASES
Updated 2 p.m.
Twelve new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday in Pierce County.
There are now 95 positive cases of the 1,955 tested in the county, with one death since the outbreak began. There were 83 confirmed cases Friday.
Saturday’s case numbers and locations are listed below with Friday’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 2 (1)
▪ East Pierce County: 2 (no change)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 10 (no change)
▪ Lakewood: 6 (5)
▪ North Pierce County: 1 (0)
▪ Northeast Pierce County: 3 (no change)
▪ Puyallup: 21 (16)
▪ South Pierce County: 6 (no change)
▪ Tacoma: 37 (33)
▪ University Place: 7 (no change)
KING COUNTY TO OPEN COVID-19 RECOVERY SITE
Updated 1 p.m.
King County and Harborview Medical Center have partnered to repurpose the Harborview Hall building in Seattle to serve as a 45-bed recovery site for COVID-19 patients.
The hall, which is across the street from the medical center, will provide a place for those without homes to rest and recover in isolation. According to the release, the location will offer onsite clinical supported provided by the medical center, and could include patients who are either waiting the result of their COVID-19 test or patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, but have mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization.
The Salvation Army will move its 85-bed enhanced shelter from Harborview Hall temporarily to the former King County Records warehouse located in the Yesler area.
EVERETT MAYOR ORDERS RESIDENTS TO STAY HOME, YAKIMA HOSPITAL PLEADS THE SAME
Updated 12:45 p.m.
Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin has ordered the city’s residents to stay home until further notice, effective noon Monday, to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Everett has a population of more than 110,000.
“As of (Saturday), there are more than 400 confirmed and probable cases in Snohomish County alone and eight deaths,” the mayor’s statement reads. “Statewide there are nearly 1,400 confirmed cases. These are unprecedented times and pose enormous risk not only to our public’s health, but also our economy and quality of life.
“The virus that causes COVID-19 is easily transmitted, especially in group settings. Preventing the further spread of this disease hinges on every person in Everett reducing their interactions with others, especially those beyond their immediate household.”
The mayor’s directive requires residents to “stay home, except for certain essential activities and work to provide essential business and government services or perform essential public infrastructure construction” and to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations when conducting essential activities.
More specific instructions are outlined in the mayor’s order.
The Seattle Times also reported Saturday afternoon Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital in Yakima — the only hospital in Yakima county — is pleading with residents to remain at home to help slow the COVID-19 spread.
“Our message today is a simple one: To save lives we strongly urge the people of Yakima to go home and stay there,” CEO Carol Peet told The Times. “We have seen the COVID-19 projections for Yakima, and if we do not do anything now we will have more critical patients than we can handle by April 8, and people will die. Patients will die not just of COVID-19, but of other chronic illnesses because we will no longer have the equipment to treat them.”
There were 10 confirmed cases in Yakima County as of Friday.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD LAUNCH WEBINARS FOR BUSINESSES
Updated 12:30 p.m.
The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County and launching informational webinars every Monday, Wednesday and Friday offering best practices for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series of conference calls will discuss the rapidly evolving situation surrounding COVID-19 in Pierce County, and what is known about existing and emerging assistance for companies and employees impacted by the outbreak.
“Bottom-line: we know that you are all working to keep your businesses running and profitable and we want to do everything we can to help,” EDB’s website reads. “Information sharing and models of best practices will be key to our collective success. Pierce County is open for business!”
Information about call times will be posted on the EDB’s website. Previous conference calls and webinars can also be accessed there.
The EDB’s website also includes a guide for small businesses about best web and social medial practices during this time, and is promoting the use of the #OpenForDeliveryPC hashtag to create a stream of information on social media platforms for those looking to shop locally.
KROGER WILL PROVIDE BONUS TO HOURLY WORKERS, EXPANDS EMERGENCY LEAVE
Updated 11:45 a.m.
The Kroger Family of Companies — which includes Fred Meyer, Fry’s, QFC and other chains that have stores in the northwest — announced in a statement Saturday it will provide a one-time bonus to hourly workers.
All hourly frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing and customer service associates who were hired on or before March 1 will receive bonuses. Full-time associates will receive $300 and part-time associated will receive $150. Bonuses will be paid on April 3.
“Our associates are working around the clock to keep our stores open for our customers,” Kroger chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said in the statement. “I am incredibly grateful for all they are doing. The true heroes in this story are our associates, and we want to provide them with additional resources and support to help them continue their remarkable effort.”
Kroger also announced it will expand its emergency leave guidelines, which were announced on March 14, to include paid time off for self-isolation and symptoms verified by health care professionals. The previous guidelines already allowed up to two weeks of paid time off for associates placed under quarantine or diagnosed with COVID-19.
CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES WILL BEGIN PRODUCING PROTECTIVE GOWNS
Updated 11:15 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Corrections said in a statement Saturday morning its Correctional Industries will begin producing protective gowns to help with the nationwide shortage.
CI has an approved prototype and expects to begin production in the coming days at its textiles shop at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell. It will later expand production to textile shops at corrections centers in Spokane, Shelton and Clallam Bay.
When fully operational, CI estimates it will produce 5,000-6,000 gowns per day with 12 staff members and 160 incarcerated workers which will then be distributed by the Department of Corrections Emergency Operations center in cooperation with the Washington State Emergency Operations Center.
COVID-19 TESTING AT TACOMA DOME UNDERWAY
Updated 9:30 a.m.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department wrote Saturday morning on Twitter that COVID-19 testing is underway at the Tacoma Dome and all slots are full.
The department outlined Friday how eligible participants — including first responders, health care workers, critical infrastructure employees and those at high risk for COVID-19 — can sign up for testing at the special site, which runs through Wednesday.
TACOMA, PUYALLUP SCHOOLS TO LAUNCH CHILD CARE SITES
Updated 9 a.m.
Both the Tacoma and Puyallup school districts are launching child care sites for children of first responders and health care workers beginning Monday.
Tacoma Public Schools will set up day camp sites at Bryant, Geiger, Lowell and Stanley elementaries, and the Al Davies Boys and Girls Club.
Playgrounds at the four schools will be closed as a safety precaution, district spokesman Dan Voelpel said, and the sites will be staffed by district employees and other community partners.
“Paraeducators, custodians, nurses, bus drivers and other classified staff will be called to work sites on a rotational basis to staff five ‘day camp’ sites that will care for the children of first responders and health care workers,” superintendent Carla Santorno said in a message to staff Thursday.
The Puyallup School District will offer child care at all 22 of its elementary schools, in addition to the free meals being provided at the sites.
Child care will operate on weekdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. beginning Monday.
MCMENAMINS ANNOUNCES ONLINE GIFT SHOP, WINE OPTIONS
Updated 9 a.m.
Days after announcing massive temporary layoffs of workers in Washington and Oregon due to COVID-19, McMenamins has released plans to continue to serve customers in a virtual capacity.
The regional chain announced the following plans Friday:
▪ 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop in Portland is selling beer, wine, cider and spirits to go. It is waiving a growler fee for beer and cider fills, though no personal growlers are accepted.
▪ The online gift shop is offering 20% off with promo code UNITED (excluding gift cards and packs).
▪ Edgefield Winery’s online shop in Oregon is open and offering a flat $10 shipping rate on orders of six or more bottles.
▪ Beginning Monday at Edgefield, curbside pickup will be available for beer, wine, cider and spirits. Customers can submit orders on the winery’s website. Pickups will occur from 2-6 p.m.
McMenamins’ Washington sites are closed at least through March 30, while its Oregon hotels are closed through April 16.
U.S. ATTORNEY URGES PUBLIC TO REPORT SUSPECTED COVID-19 FRAUD
Updated 8:45 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran of the Western District of Washington urged the public in a news release Friday to alert authorities of suspected fraud related to COVID-19.
The public can call the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline (1-866-720-5721) or email the NCDF (disaster@leo.gov) to reported suspected fraudulent activity.
“We cannot allow criminals to use the anxiety and fear surrounding this virus to further victimize our community,” Moran said in the release. “Reporting this activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud will help law enforcement identify and ultimately prosecute those who try to profit using fraud schemes related to the virus.”
Some examples of fraudulent schemes include:
▪ Individuals or businesses attempting to sell fake cures for COVID-19 online
▪ Phishing emails from entities posing as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization
▪ Malicious websites or apps that share COVID-19-related information to attempt to gain and lock access to devices until payment is received
▪ Seeking donations for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations
▪ Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and using the information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures
STARBUCKS CLOSING CAFES, MOVING TO DRIVE-THRU, DELIVERY ONLY
Updated 8 a.m.
Starbucks announced Friday afternoon it will temporarily close its stores for two weeks beginning immediately.
Service at most stores in the United States will be limited to drive-thru, though some cafes in or around hospitals and health care centers may remain open to serve first responders and health care workers.
At the drive-thru-only locations, can order at the drive-thru window or use the Starbucks app to order ahead. Locations and hours are being updated every 90 minutes on the app. Starbucks is also offering delivery through Starbucks Delivers in markets in the U.S. and Canada through the Uber Eats app.
Due to the current circumstances, Starbucks will delay the expiration of all Stars scheduled to expire between now and June 1 for its loyalty program members.
Beginning Friday, Starbucks also announced it would give all partners catastrophe pay for the next 30 days in addition to existing benefits such as sick pay and personal time off. More about the physical and mental health, and financial benefits the company is offering can be found on its website.
The Starbucks Foundation helped launch Seattle’s COVID-19 Response Fund with a $250,000 contribution earlier this month.
SOUND TRANSIT SUSPENDS FARE REQUIREMENTS
Updated 7 a.m.
Beginning Saturday, Sound Transit will suspend fare requirements on buses and trains until further notice in an effort to protect employees and riders through social distancing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The safety of our riders and employees is our top priority,” Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff said in a statement. “During this difficult time we are taking all the steps necessary protect public health while maintaining service throughout all service hours. We are committed to serving every customer who continues to depend on our service to get where they need to go.”
ST Express passengers will be asked to board and exit the buses from the rear doors when possible — with the front areas of buses limited to passengers requiring mobility devices or the use of the boarding ramp — in order to create separation from the bus operators.
Sound Transit announced Friday it would temporarily reduce service on the Sounder commuter trains, Link light rail and some of its ST Express bus routes after seeing a 70 percent decline in ridership since the coronavirus outbreak began.
That ultimately led to the decision to suspend fares. During this time, fare enforcement personnel will instead act as a security presence on trains at at Sound Transit facilities to help riders.
“Sound Transit remains committed to serving the public and will continue to meet the needs of transit-dependent riders as well as low-income, minority and limited-English-proficiency populations,” the statement says. “However, staffing availability, further ridership reductions and/or government directives related to COVID-19 could impact service further as the regional response continues.”
The latest schedule information is located on the Reduced Service page of the Sound Trainsit website. Riders are cautioned against using usual scheduling apps such as Google Maps and One Bus Away, as they will likely have inaccurate information during this time, and are encouraged to instead sign up for rider alerts for updates on service.
PIERCE TRANSIT INCREASING SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES
Updated 7 a.m.
Pierce Transit is taking steps to increase social distancing in its operations, according to a Friday statement.
Seats have been marked off directly behind drivers and throughout buses to encourage social distancing, daily cleanings of buses have increased with a focus on “high touch” areas such as handrails and grab bars, drivers have been provided with disinfecting wipes, gloves and hand sanitizer, public restrooms are being cleaned twice per day and disinfected four times per day, and administrative employees who can work remotely are doing so.
More operational changes are set to take effect next week.
The following changes will begin Tuesday:
▪ Fare collection on buses and SHUTTLE paratransit vehicles will be suspended until further notice.
▪ Customers will be asked to board buses using the rear doors only unless they require mobility assistance.
▪ Pierce Transit’s lobby at its administrative headquarters in Lakewood will be closed to the public, though customers can still reach the lobby by phone (253-581-8000, option 5, option 2).
The following changes will begin Wednesday:
▪ The Bus Shop at the Tacoma Dome station, Pierce Transit’s customer service office, will close its lobby to the public. Staff will still be available by phone (253-581-8000, option 1, option 1) from 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on weekdays.
More information can be found on the Pierce Transit website or by calling its toll-free line (1-800-562-8109).
HOSPITALS SCREENING, RESTRICTING VISITORS
Updated 7 a.m.
CHI Franciscan is actively screening and restricting visitors at its hospital locations as it works to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Potential visitors are asked to review the rules before visiting one of the 11 hospital locations in the Puget Sound area — which include Tacoma’s St. Joseph Medical Center, Lakewood’s St. Clare Hospital and Gig Harbor’s St. Anthony Hospital.
Visitors are not allowed unless they meet the following exceptions:
▪ One visitor at a time for end-of-life issues
▪ One support person for laboring mothers
▪ Parents of a special-care infant
▪ Care partner who needs to learn how to care for a patient
▪ Designated driver for surgery patients
Children 12 and younger are restricted from visiting the hospitals. Approved visitors must use designated entrances and will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
CHI Franciscan also continues to offer free virtual urgent care services. As does MultiCare.
MultiCare also started restricting visitors to its hospitals Thursday, which include Tacoma General Hospital, Tacoma’s Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Tacoma’s Allenmore Hospital and others around the South Sound.
Visitors will be screened at hospital entrances, asked questions and have their temperature taken. Any visitors showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked not to enter the hospitals.
Other restrictions include:
▪ Visiting hours are restricted to 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
▪ Only one caregiver or support person is allowed for each patient per day (two if patients are younger than 17; NICU and pediatric unit patients may have two visitors per day instead of one)
▪ No visitors younger than 17 will be allowed
▪ Visitors will wear a wristband to identify them to staff
▪ No visitors will be allowed for patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 (patients 17 and younger are allowed one parent or caregiver at a time, or two in a 24-hour period)
▪ Only one person will be allowed to accompany patients arriving for surgeries or procedures
▪ Visitors will not be allowed to enter through the emergency room unless they are accompanying an emergency patient (only one visitor is allowed to accompany emergency patients or patients with clinic appointments)
▪ Vistors who are not at the hospital to receive care or visit a patient will not be allowed to enter
STOP FLUSHING THINGS THAT AREN’T TOILET PAPER
Updated 7 a.m.
The Pierce County sewer system has seen an uptick in nonflushable items this week, and urges residents to be more wary of what they’re flushing doing the toilet.
“Only toilet paper and what comes from the human body should be flushed down the toilet,” spokesperson Sean McDermott said Friday.
Paper towels and some items that claim to be flushable, like hygiene and disinfecting wipes, should not be put in the toilet, as they can clog sewer pipes, cause backups and severely damage the sewer system, McDermott said.
PUYALLUP CLOSES PLAYGROUNDS
Updated 7 a.m.
The City of Puyallup announced Friday evening on Twitter it would immediately close all playgrounds at its parks to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Updated information about parks and recreation can be found on the city’s website.
SEAHAWKS, BLAZERS, PAUL G. ALLEN FOUNDATION, VULCAN DONATING MORE THAN $1 MILLION
Updated 7 a.m.
The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Vulcan Inc., along with the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers, announced Friday plans to support the Pacific Northwest community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Seahawks and CenturLink Field have committed more than $700,000 to compensate part-time employees who have lost jobs due to canceled events at the stadium.
The Blazers are also compensating part-time employees for canceled events at their Moda Center arena in Portland.
Both teams are donating thousands of pounds of food from their facilities to non-profit organizations in their cities. The Seahawks are giving 3,000 pounds of food to Seattle’s FareStart, the YMCA and Mercy Housing Northwest, as well as supporting a blood drive with Bloodworks Northwest.
Allen’s foundation is donating $500,000 to the Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, and the the Seahawks are also donating to that cause.
Vulcan is donating $100,000 to support Seattle’s international district restaurants that were among the first business in the country impacted by the pandemic. Vulcan will also match $25,000 made personally by its employees to the Seattle Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund.
RAINIERS RELEASE COLORING BOOK FOR KIDS
Updated 7 a.m.
The Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, released a comic book that kids can color Friday, which features Rhubarb the Reindeer and other ballpark workers dressed as superheros.
“We know that some of R City have come into some unplanned coworkers this last week,” the club’s site reads. “If that is you, we will keep this page packed and regularly updated with kids activities designed to connect you back to R House even when we have to be apart. That starts now with the Heroes of R City, easily downloaded and printed here for your kids to color and add.”
The Rainiers were set to host their Opening Day on April 9, but the minor league baseball season has been postponed until further notice.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 7:08 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates: Washington reports 94 deaths; Tacoma Dome test slots full."
